The caterpillars of the moths were collected as fruitborers in pepper at a farmer. I reared them till the adults hatched and compared them with pictures and descriptions on the internet. Are these moths Spodoptera frugiperda? The caterpillars have different colors, but I did read that they can vary in color. The same caterpillars were also found inside bittermelon as fruit borers. Does anyone know if S. frugiperda really can be a fruit borer? I only found information that the older caterpillars act as borers in corn.
Compared with the descriptions on the internet, my caterpillars also have a Y-shape on their headcapsule. They also have the four spots at the end of their abdomen.
In the pictures you can see: 4 moths (presumably 2 females and 2 males); some caterpillars of different colors; the pupa; and eggs about to hatch.
I would confirm your identification. While Fall Armyworm is a highly polyphagous pest, I am not sure if it was previously reported from Momordica charantia. This host plant was not mentioned in the recent checklist:
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1747&context=entomologyfacpub
So, it could be a new host plant record. The larvae of various Spodoptera species may bore into different plant parts, including fruits, and S. frugiperda is not an exception. I guess such behaviour is typical for the genus.
Yes, they are Spodoptera frugiperda, two females on the left and two males on the right. The larvae shows a lot of variation in each instar.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140413390@N06/44091652830/in/photolist-28k54m8-J7aGDH-2abeffS-283aKnX-2dZpVGA-2dZpVvo-2bQHzGu-2abefuu-2by3UYk-J4ir4Y-2hN8jHL-2f1GjT7/
Yes, you are right. These are the photographs of the fall armyworm moth and larva Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) which cause economical damage to cultivated plants such as rice, wheat, sugarcane and vegetable crops.
yes, and you can notice the square shaped points on the end of larvae abdomen
2nd one is female and last 2 are male, but u have to check for first.
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